A COVENTRY cashier who stole more than #6,000 from her boss's business has been sent to prison for four months.

Margaret Eleanor Nash, aged 55, of Belgrave Road, Wyken, appeared before Coventry Crown Court after admitting six charges of theft and four of false accounting.

She also asked for 13 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

The court heard Nash lied about her previous work history back in 1991 when she first applied for her job at R.J. Smith Automobiles in Beech Tree Avenue, Tile Hill. Despite this, she had been considered a loyal worker over the years and had even been persuaded to stay on during a period of illness five years ago.

But her boss, Ray Smith, became suspicious shortly before Nash went on a holiday to Weymouth - where she and her husband stayed in an expensive hotel.

Graham Hubbard, prosecuting, said: "Although Mrs Nash admits to taking #6,233, the company accountants estimate a #20,000 deficiency in the books over the years."

Mr Hubbard said another employee left #275 of personal cash in the garage till for safekeeping but when he returned #175 was missing. It was then Mr Smith asked for a separate record to be kept of cash taken during the week Nash was on holiday.

When she returned she at first suggested #150 had gone missing but when challenged first a credit card slip was traced and later Nash 'found' a screwed up cheque in a parts box.

Later police discovered four signed blank cheques at Nash's home.

In mitigation, Kevin Hegarty said: "My client has led a previously unblemished life and has already taken the unusual step of repaying #4,800. She has also given a further #1,300 to the police to return."

Mr Hegarty said Nash started stealing after her husband had lost his well-paid job

"Once she started taking the money it was like a drug, and difficult to stop."